THE INQUISITOR. You hear, Joan? That is what happens to the obdurate. Think before you answer. Has she been shewn the instruments? THE EXECUTIONER. They are ready, my lord. She has seen them. JOAN. If you tear me limb from limb until you separate my soul from my body you will get nothing out of me beyond what I have told you. What more is there to tell that you could understand? Besides, I cannot bear to be hurt; and if you hurt me I will say anything you like to stop the pain. But I will take it all back afterwards; so what is the use of it? LADVENU. There is much in that. We should proceed mercifully. COURCELLES. But the torture is customary. THE INQUISITOR. It must not be applied wantonly. If the accused will confess voluntarily, then its use cannot be justified. COURCELLES. But this is unusual and irregular. She refuses to take the oath. LADVENU [_disgusted_] Do you want to torture the girl for the mere pleasure of it? COURCELLES [_bewildered_] But it is not a pleasure. It is the law. It is customary. It is always done. THE INQUISITOR. That is not so, Master, except when the inquiries are carried on by people who do not know their legal business. COURCELLES. But the woman is a heretic. I assure you it is always done. CAUCHON [_decisively_] It will not be done today if it is not necessary. Let there be an end of this. I will not have it said that we proceeded on forced confessions. We have sent our best preachers and doctors to this woman to exhort and implore her to save her soul and body from the fire: we shall not now send the executioner to thrust her into it. COURCELLES. Your lordship is merciful, of course. But it is a great responsibility to depart from the usual practice. JOAN. Thou art a rare noodle, Master. Do what was done last time is thy rule, eh? COURCELLES [_rising_] Thou wanton: dost thou dare call me noodle? THE INQUISITOR. Patience, Master, patience: I fear you will soon be only too terribly avenged. COURCELLES [_mutters_] Noodle indeed! [_He sits down, much discontented_]. THE INQUISITOR. Meanwhile, let us not be moved by the rough side of a shepherd lass’s tongue. JOAN. Nay: I am no shepherd lass, though I have helped with the sheep like anyone else. I will do a lady’s work in the house—spin or weave—against any woman in Rouen. THE INQUISITOR. This is not a time for vanity, Joan. You stand in great peril. JOAN. I know it: have I not been punished for my vanity? If I had not worn my cloth of gold surcoat in battle like a fool, that Burgundian soldier would never have pulled me backwards off my horse; and I should not have been here. THE CHAPLAIN. If you are so clever at woman’s work why do you not stay at home and do it? JOAN. There are plenty of other women to do it; but there is nobody to do my work.